Filling heads for bottling machine



June 4, 1957 GROSBOIS 2,794,453

FILLING HEADS FOR BOTTLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 El 408 11a II I 12 F 127 110- F W v 63 109 q 12 INVENI' OR ATTORNEY5 June 4, 1957 L. GROSBOIS FILLING HEADS FOR BOTTLING MACHINE 3 She'ets-Sheet 5 Fileamov- 14, 1955 INVENTOR United States aten FILLING HEADS FOR EQTTLING MACHINE Lucien Grosbois, Lyon, France, assignor to Socit Nouvelle des Anciens Etablissements F. Wenger, Paris, France, a joint-stock company of France, and End;- lissements Vidus-Huet & Cie, Paris, France, a French limited liability company Application November 14, 1955, Serial No. 546,750

7 Claims. (Cl. 141-39) This;invention relates to filling heads adapted to be mounted on bottling machines for gaseous liquids under pressure.

In the bottling of gaseous liquids by means of machines of the revolving type or the like, the bottle is first tightly applied against the filling head; in a second step the bottle is connected with a pressurizing chamber containing gas at a pressure exactly equal to the pressure in the gas space of the liquid tank of the machine; in a third step the bottle is connected with this liquid tank and with a gas exhaust chamber adapted to maintain a counterpressure exactly equal to or slightly lower than the pressure in the gas space of the tank, whereby liquid from the latter flows by gravity into the bottle, the air or gas escaping into the outer atmosphere through pressure reducing means associated to the above-mentioned gas exhaust chamber; the bottle is afterwards connected with a releasing chamber, whereby the gas pressure above the liquid is progressively reduced to atmospheric pressure; finally the bottle is disengaged from the filling head.

In the'known constructions these successive connections are realized by means of a rotary distributing valve device associated with the filling head, liquid being admitted into the bottle through an inner downwardly extending axial tube, While gas is forced into the bottle or permitted to exhaust therefrom through an annular passage surrounding the said tube. At the end of the filling step the bottle is wholly filled with liquid and means should be provided to form an air space in the upper end of the neck thereof.

A first object of this invention is to provide a filling head of simplified construction wherein the distributing valve device will only have to control two connections.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filling head which will automatically stop the flow of liquid into the bottle being filled when the pre-determined level is reached within the said bottle.

According to this invention the filling head comprises an axially slidable gas exhaust tube and valve means controlling the, flow of liquid into the bottle, the said valve means being so associated with the axially slidable tube that the passage of liquid is closed when the tube is at its lower position and open when said tube is at its upper position. In a preferred embodiment the axial tube is formed with an outer conical shoulder adapted to form a movable valve member co-operating with a corresponding seat provided in an annular liquid passage surrounding the tube within the body of the filling head. Upward movement of the tube may result from the action of inner pressure within the bottle during the pressurizing step, downward movement being obtained by means of cams acting on the upper end of the tube.

The gas exhaust passage is preferably only controlled by means of a non-return valve.

The distributing valvedevice, which only has to control the pressurizing step and the pressure releasing step, may be formed of two independent spring loaded valves actuated by appropriate cams.

ratented June 4, 1957 The liquid passage in the body of the filling head preferably comprises a syphon-like portion in such a manner that the flow of liquid stops immediately when the liquid level within the bottle reaches the lower end of the axial gas exhaust tube, the syphon preventing [any gas or air return from the bottle into the liquid tank of the machine. This syphon may be formed by a chamber provided in the body of the filling head co-axially to the said tube, the annular liquid passage from this chamber to the bottle extending upwardly within the chamber in the form of a tubular extension whose upper end forms the seat for the liquid controlling valve member associated to the axial tube, while the said chamber is connected with the liquid tank of the bottling machine by a canal opening into the chamber at a lower level than the upper edge of the aforesaid tubular extension.

The lower end of the axial gas exhaust tube preferably comprises a float valve to prevent liquid ingress into this tube at the end of the filling step.

In the annexed drawings:

Fig. l is a general vertical section of a filling head according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan View with parts in section along line HI-III of Figs. 1 and 2, the parts disposed within the vertical bore of the body of the head being omitted.

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged partial views reproducing with more details portions of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 6 is a partial section taken along line VIVI of Pig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 4, but showing the parts while a bottle is being filled.

Fig. 8 is :a partial view similar to Fig. 7, but showing the parts at the end of the filling operation.

The filling head illustrated is associated to a rotary multihead bottling machine for gaseous liquids. This machine comprises three annular members 101, 102 and 103 (Fig. 1) arranged in superposed relation and clamped together to form a gas-tight unit which is carried by appropriate arms, not illustrated. Two circular grooves are cut in the upper side of the lower member 101, these grooves being covered by the intermediate member 102 and thus forming two concentric annular chambers, viz. a releasing chamber 104 and a pressurizing chamber 105. The intermediate member 102 has also its upper side grooved to form an annular liquid chamber 106 of substantial cross-section and a gas exhaust chamber 107, both being covered by the upper member 103. The intermediate member 102 is somewhat larger in outer diameter than the upper and lower members 101 and 103 and its periphery has a number of flat spaces adapted to receive the successive individual filling heads.

Each filling head comprises a body 108 clamped against member 102 by means of studs 199 with nuts 110 (Fig. 2), a gasket 111 (Fig. 1) being disposed between body 108 and member 102 for ensuring tightness. Body 108 is bored vertically and in the threaded upper end ofthis bore there is screwed a plug 112, while the lower end forms a housing for a circular member 113 which is clamped against a shoulder of the bore by a screwthreaded ring 114. Plug 112 is also bored axially to receive a slidable tubular rod 115. Two vertically spaced Iannular seals 116 (Fig. 4) are arranged in appropriate grooves of the bore of plug 112 for ensuring tightness against the periphery of rod 115. Plug 112 is recessed internally between these seals 116, as indicated at 117, and holes 118 are provided in the wall of the said plug for connecting recess 117 with a peripheral groove 119 of plug 112. A canal 120 is provided in body 108 .and in the intermediate member 102 to form a passage be tween groove 119 and the 'gas (Fig. l).

exhaust chamber 107 The upper end of the tubular rod 115 is closed by a plug 121 (Fig. 1) having an outer head 122 adapted for cooperation with appropriate cams such as 123 secured to the fixed frame of thebottling machine. t Red 115 is provided with radial holes 124 (Fig. 4) so disposed-as to communicate with the above-describedirecess 117. The inner diameter of the said rod 115 is reduced below holes 124 to provide a seat for a ball valve 125. Rod 115 terminates into a conical lower end wherein there is screwed the upper end of another tubular rod 126, the said conical lower end carrying a packing ring 127 adapted to bear against the inner surface of the flaring end of an upward conical tubular extension 128 of the above-described circular member 113.

The circular member 113 and its upward extension 128 (Fig. 4) have an axial bore of much larger diameter than rod 126 to provide an annular passage around the latter. The lower side of member 113 is formed with two concentric circular grooves 129 and 130, the outer one 130 forming a housing for the upper portion of a packing ring 131 made of soft rubber or the like, while the lower portion of the said ring is retained against an inner shoulder of the lower screw-threaded ring 114. The lower tubular rod 126 is provided vw'th a conical deflector 132 (Fig. 4) disposed somewhat below the packing ring 131. Rod 126 extends downwardly below this deflector 132 and its lower end carries a small cylindrical casing 133 in which there is disposed a spherical float 134 adapted to form a ball valve against the lower end of the tubular rod 126. Lateral holes 135 are provided to permit ingress of liquid into casing 133.

Body 108 has two vertical holes 137 (Figs. 2, and 6) disposed on each side of the general vertical plane of the filling head. Two rods 138 are slidably passed through holes 137, their lower ends being secured to a movable centering ring 139 (Figs. 1, 2 and 7) having an inner rubber ring 140. V

The :axial bore of body 108 forms a chamber 141 (Fig. 4) for housing the upper extension 128 of member 113. Chamber 141 is connected with the above-described liquid chamber 106 by a passage 142 (Fig. l) which opens into the said chamber 141 at a lower level than the upper edge of extension 128. This passage 142 has an intermediate shoulder forming a seat for a ball 143 normally retained at the inoperative position by the upturned ends of a spring clip 144. Ball 143 is adapted to operate as a safety valve, as explained below.

Body 108 is further provided with two horizontal bores 145 (Fig. 3) and 146 disposed in the same horizontal plane on each side of the mean vertical plane of the filling head and in each one of these bores thereis disposed a valve device comprising a tubular body 147 (Fig. 5) screwed into the corresponding bore and having an inner outwardly flaring end, a conical valve 148 with a packing ring 149 adapted to fit into the said flaring end, a rod 150 solid with valve 148, an actuating head 151 secured at the outer end of rod 150, and a spring 152 interposed between head 151 and body 147 to return valve 148 to the closed position. body 147 situated immediately behind the flaring end of the latter is of relatively larger diameter to form an annular chamber 153 which communicates with the bore 145 or 146 when valve 148 is raised from its seat. Chamber 153 is connected by radial holes 154 with a circular groove 155 cut in the periphery of'body 147. a

The body 108 of the filling head is solid withtwo horizontal flat arms 156 (Fig. 1) disposed above each other in the form of a forked extension of the said body 108. Arms 156 carry a vertical pin 157 whereon two sleeves 158 and 159 are loosely mounted. Sleeves 158 and 159 are respectively solid with arms 160 and 161 (Fig. 3) provided with actuating rollers, respectively 162 and 163, loose on vertical pins securedonto the outerend of arms 160 and 161. Arms 160 and 161 are so disposed'asto The portion of the axial bore of actuate the heads 151 of the valves respectively associated with bores 145 and 146 of body 108. The fixed name of the bottling machine is provided with cam members (not illustrated) adapted to actuate rollers 162 and 163 during rotation of the revolving part of the machine.

The inner end of bore 145 (which is closed by the gasket 111) is connected with the pressurizing chamber (Fig. 1) by a passage 164 (Fig. 3). The annular space corresponding to the groove 155 in the body 147 of the valve device mounted in the said bore communicates with the inner groove 129 of member 113 through a passage 165 (Figs. 5 and 6). A somewhat similar passage 166 connects groove 129 with bore 146 (Figs. 3 and 5). And finally a passage 167 (Figs. 3 and 5) connects the groove in the body of the valve device associated to the said bore 146 with the above-described releasing chamber 104 (Fig. 1).

The filling head described operates as follows:

The annular liquid chamber 106 (Fig. 1) is connected with a storage tank containing the gaseous liquid to be bottled, this connection being effected through an appropriate constant level device, not illustrated. The pressure in the gas space of chamber 106 is of course equal to the pressure corresponding to the gas saturation in the liquid. The pressurizing chamber 105 is connected with a gas supply at a pressure equal to the said gas pressure within chamber 106. The releasing chamber 104 communicates with the outer atmosphere through a calibrated orifice or the like and it may comprise foam collecting means when required. The gas exhaust chamber 107 commu-, nicates with the outer atmosphere through a pressurereducing device which is so adjusted as to maintain within the said chamber a counter-pressure exactly equal to or very slightly lower than the gas pressure within the gas space of the liquid chamber 106.

At the inoperative position of the filling head the conical lower end of the axial tubular rod 115 forms a movable valve member which is tightly applied against the flaring upper end of the upward extension 128 of member 113 (Fig. 1) by the liquid under pressure which tends to flow from chamber 106 through passage 142. When a bottle A (Fig. 7) is lifted by the individual bottle-lifting device associated with the filling head on the revolving part of the machine, its upper portion is centered by the vertically movable centering ring 139, its neck enters ring 114 and it is tightly applied against the packing ring 131, as illustrated. a a a A fixed peripheral cam then actuates roller 162 (Fig. 3), which causes arm to open the spring valve 148 associated to bore 145. The pressurizing chamber 105 is thus. connected with the innergroove 129 provided in the lower side of member 113, and gasunder pressure flows into the bottle A the pressure within thelatter being thus equalized with the pressure within the liquid chamber 106 of Fig. 1. Under the action of thepressure thus created within bottle A the axialitubular rod 115-126 rises (no cam 123, Fig. 1, being provided in this zone of the machine) and the packing ring 127 clears the upper end of extension 128, as shown in Fig. 7. Roller 162 is almost immediately released by'the corresponding cam, the valve 148 of bore 145 being thus returned to the closed position of Fig. 5, but extension 128 remains open.

Owing to pressure equalization between bottle A and chamber 106, liquid from the latter flows gently into the bottle through passage 102, chamber 141, extension 128 and ring 114. Under the action of deflector 132 the liquid is projected towards the wall of the neck of the bottle, while the air or gas escapes through holes 135, tubular rods 126 and 115, ball valve 125, recess 117 (Fig. 4), holes 118, groove 119, passage 120 and gas exhaust chamber 107 (Fig. 1). I p

When the liquid level within bottle A reaches casing 133, float 134 is raised (Fig. 8) and'closes the lower end of tubular rod 126, i. e. the gas; exhaust passage.-

Owing to the Syphon-like arrangement of extension 128 and of passage 142 within chamber 141, no air or gas from bottle A can return to the liquidchamber 106 and the how of liquid from the said chamber 106 therefore stops almost immediately. It will be appreciated that closure of float 134 against the lower end of rod 126 wholly prevents liquid from entering the latter. No droplet of liquid can therefore be canied into the various gas exhaust passages during the filling step.

An upper cam such as-123 (Fig. 1) then acts on the upper head 12205 the plug 121' of rod 115 and positively lowers the latter against the action of inner pressure, thus closing liquid passage-from chamber 14 1 to the bottle. Then a second peripheral cam actuates roller 163 for a short time, whereby groove 129 is connected with the pressure releasing chamber 104 (Fig. 1) through passage 167 (Figs. 3 and 5), the spring loaded valve situated within bore 146 and passage 166. The pressure in the upper end of the neck of bottle A is progressively equalized with the outer atmospheric pressure.

The bottle is then lowered, swept aside and carried towards the capsuling machine'in the usual manner.

Owing to the fact that the tubular rod unit 115-126 carries the packing ring 127 which, together with the conical lower end of rod 115, forms a movable valve member for the liquid, the distributing device has not to control liquid passage between the liquid tank 106 and the bottle being filled. Also the non-return ball valve 125 dispenses with any distributing element controlling gas exhaust from the bottle during the filling step. The movable tubular rod unit 115-126 is only positively actuated for downward movement, since it rises automatically under the action of internal pressure within the bottle. Due to the syphon-like arrangement within chamber 141, the flow of liquid into the bottle is automatically stopped when the proper level is reached Without any liquid returning from the bottle into the head. The risk of droplets being carried into gas passages is also reduced to a minimum, the float valve 134 also preventing any liquid ingress into the gas exhaust pas sage. In this connection it is to be remarked that with some liquids, such as beer, it sometimes occurs that a bottle, which has been defectively washed, is contami nated by very active bacteria which difiuse almost immediately in the liquid during the filling step. With the known constructions of filling heads, the droplets of liquid retained on the outer and inner wall of the filling tube or in the gas passages are thus contaminated and they in turn contaminate the next bottle, and so on. In the improved filling head described the quantity of liquid carried from a bottle to the next one is reduced to a minimum and the risk of successive contamination is therefore correspondingly reduced.

Iclaim:

l. A filling head for a bottling machine having a liquid tank and a gas exhaust chamber, comprising a body having a lower bottle receiving portion adapted to be tightly pressed on the bottle to be filled, said body having a liquid passage adapted to connect said bottle receiving portion with said liquid tank; a substantially vertical tubular rod axially slidable through said body between a lower and an upper position, said rod being substantially co-axial to said bottle receiving portion; means adapted to connect the inner bore of said tubular rod with said gas exhaust chamber; valve means to control gas passage from the bore of said tubular rod to said gas exhaust chamber; a float valve at the lower end of said tubular rod to close said lower end when the liquid level in said bottle reaches said end; and valve means in said liquid passage, said last-named valve means being so associated to said tubular rod that said passage is closed when said rod is at its lower position and open when said rod is at its upper position.

2. A filling head for a bottling machine having a liquid tank and a gas exhaust chamber, comprising a body having alower bottle receiving portion adapted to be tightly pressed on the bottle to be filled, said body having a liquid passage adapted to connect said bottle receiving portion with said liquid tank; asubstantially vertical tubular rod axially slidable thiougl, said body between a lower and an upper'position, said rod being substantially co-axial to said bottle receiving portion; means adapted to connect the inner bore of said tubular rod with said gas exhaust chamber; a non-return valve in the inner bore of said tubular rod to prevent gas from flowing back from said gas exhaust chamber to said bottle receiving portion; and valve means in said'liquid passage, said valve means being so associated to said tubular rod that'said passage is closed when said rod is at its lower position and open when said rod is at its upper position.

3. In a filling head as claimed in claim 2, said body having an inner gas chamber surrounding said rod and adapted to be permanently connected with said gas exhaust chamber; said rod having lateral holes to connect the bore of said rod with said inner gas chamber; and said non-return valve being disposed below said holes.

4. A filling head for a bottling machine having a tank containing a gaseous liquid under pressure, a pressurizing chamber containing gas under'a pressure substantially equal to the pressure of the gas space Within said tank, a gas exhaust chamber ensuring exhaust of gas into the atmosphere under a counter-pressure exactly equal to or slightly lower than the pressure within said gas space, and a releasing chamber adapted to permit progressive pressure reduction to atmospheric pressure, said filling head comprising a body formed with a lower bottle receiving portion adapted to be tightly pressed on the bottle to be filled, said body having a liquid passage adapted to connect said bottle receiving portion with said liquid tank, a first gas passage adapted to connect said bottle receiving portion with said pressurizing chamber, and a second gas passage adapted to connect said bottle receiving portion with said releasing chamber; a substantially vertical tubular rod axially slidable through said body between a lower and an upper position, said rod being substantially co-axial to said bottle receiving portion; means adapted to connect the inner bore of said tubular rod with said gas exhaust chamber; a non-return valve in the inner bore of said tubular rod to prevent gas from flowing back from said gas exhaust chamber to said bottle receiving portion; valve means in said liquid passage, said valve means being so associated to said tubular rod that said passage is closed when said rod is at its lower position and open when said rod is at its upper position; a springloaded valve in each of said first-named and second-named gas passages; and pivoted arms at the outer end of said body to selectively actuate said spring-loaded valves.

5. A filling head rfor a bottling machine having a liquid tank and a gas exhaust chamber, comprising a body formed with a lower bottle receiving portion adapted to be tightly pressed on the bottle to be filled, said body having a liquid passage adapted to connect said bottle receiving portion with said liquid tank, said passage comprising a syphon-like portion; a substantially vertical tubular rod substantially co-axial to said bottle receiving portion, the inner bore of said tubular rod being adapted to be connected with said gas exhaust chamber; valve means in said liquid passage; and a fioat valve at the lower end of said tubular rod to close said lower end when the liquid level in said bottle reaches said end.

6. In a filling head as claimed in claim 5, a non-return valve in the bore of said rod to prevent gas from flowing back from said gas exhaust chamber to said bottle receiving portion.

7. A filling head for a bottling machine having a liquid tank and a gas exhaust chamber, comprising a body formed with a lower bottle receiving portion adapted to be tightly pressed on the bottle to be filled and with a liquid passage adapted to connect said bottle receiving portion with said liquid tank, said passage comprising an inner'cha-mber axially disposed within said body' with an upwardly directed co-axial tubular extension formedby said body within 'saidichamber and said liquid passage comprising an inlet portion opening into said chamber at a lower level than the upper end of said tubular extension, and an outlet portion extending vertically from the upper end of said tubular extension to said bottle receiving portion; a substantially vertical tubular rod axially slidable through said body between a lower and an upper position, said rod being substantially co-axial to said tubular extension, to said outlet and to said bottle receiving portion while being spaced from the inner wall of said extension, outlet and portion, and said rod being formed with a shoulder disposed within said chamber to form valve means in said liquid passage in cooperation with the 15 107,480

upper endof said tubular extension when said rod is at its lower position; and valve means to control gas passage from the inner bore of said tubularrod to said gas exhaust chamber.

' References Cited in the file oi thispatent iU NITED STATES PATENTS 863,884 Schneider' Aug. 29, 1907 921,032 Webster et a1 May 11, 1909 10 2,063,326 7 Meyer Dec. 8, 1936 2,597,943 Meyer May 27; 1952 2,676,742 Day et a1. Apr. 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain. July 5, 1911 

